Whooping cough ("Pertussis") increasing in adolescents
Whooping cough ("pertussis") in infants
Due to the miraculous effectiveness of infant immunizations, I have only seen a few cases of whooping cough in my day. But, trust me, a few was more than enough. A more miserable, sick and pathetic baby is hard to imagine:
Cough...cough...cough...cough...try to breathe in...can't breathe in...make a horrible "WHOOP" sound desperately trying to get the air in...turn purple...sputter and vomit...and then cough...cough... cough...cough... for days, even weeks!
Worldwide, whooping cough still kills 300,000 children/year -- mainly infants from areas where immunizations are rare. (Do you wonder why I am adamant that you all fully immunize your kids?).
Whooping cough on the rise in adolescents
The number of cases in the U.S. has been increasing (11,600 in 2003, 19,000 in 2004), especially in adolescents. So it now looks like immunity to whooping cough from infant immunizations often wears off around adolescence (age 10 or so).
Whooping cough is very unlikely to be fatal in an otherwise healthy adolescent, but what it lacks in fatality it makes up in misery - most kids call it "the worst and longest cough I have ever had" (although without a "whoop").
The good news
1) The new whooping cough immunization ("acellular pertussis") is largely free of the side effects of the earlier shots and has been approved as a "booster" for adolescents.
2) Antibiotics can shorten the course of the illness. So, if your child contracts a "cold" with an impressive non-stop cough, contact your pediatric provider to consider testing and/or treatment for whooping cough.
Dr. P's bottom line
Have your adolescent kids get a "booster shot" to whooping cough ASAP!
Related Topics: Whooping Cough on the Rise, Adult Whooping Cough Cases May Hit 1 Million
Due to the miraculous effectiveness of infant immunizations, I have only seen a few cases of whooping cough in my day. But, trust me, a few was more than enough. A more miserable, sick and pathetic baby is hard to imagine:
Cough...cough...cough...cough...try to breathe in...can't breathe in...make a horrible "WHOOP" sound desperately trying to get the air in...turn purple...sputter and vomit...and then cough...cough... cough...cough... for days, even weeks!
Worldwide, whooping cough still kills 300,000 children/year -- mainly infants from areas where immunizations are rare. (Do you wonder why I am adamant that you all fully immunize your kids?).
Whooping cough on the rise in adolescents
The number of cases in the U.S. has been increasing (11,600 in 2003, 19,000 in 2004), especially in adolescents. So it now looks like immunity to whooping cough from infant immunizations often wears off around adolescence (age 10 or so).
Whooping cough is very unlikely to be fatal in an otherwise healthy adolescent, but what it lacks in fatality it makes up in misery - most kids call it "the worst and longest cough I have ever had" (although without a "whoop").
The good news
1) The new whooping cough immunization ("acellular pertussis") is largely free of the side effects of the earlier shots and has been approved as a "booster" for adolescents.
2) Antibiotics can shorten the course of the illness. So, if your child contracts a "cold" with an impressive non-stop cough, contact your pediatric provider to consider testing and/or treatment for whooping cough.
Dr. P's bottom line
Have your adolescent kids get a "booster shot" to whooping cough ASAP!
Related Topics: Whooping Cough on the Rise, Adult Whooping Cough Cases May Hit 1 Million
7 Comments:
My brother is 8 months and has had a case of pink eye that he caught at his daycare. Days after is developed a horrible cough. Just not with whooping noises inbetween. Runny nose also watery eyes. I was just wondering if he had whooping cough, though i pray he doesnt.
To the commenter wondering if her brother has whooping cough or something else: he should be seen by his doctor/pediatrician to determine what's going on and to receive treatment if necessary.
My daughter of 3.5 months got tested last week for wooping caugh and I am getting results tomorrow, the pediatrician started her on zithromax right away but she is still coughing and weezing and we are done with the antibotic. could it be that she needs something stronger?
My son is 13yrs. And he is an juvinile diabetic for the last 8years. He started with a really sore throat then a terrible cough last thursday. I finally got him into the ped, and she done the qtip nose test and it came back postitive after 2days. She started him on zithromax right away on wednesday. now me and his dad has to be treated. his friend came over 4days in role and he was in school all week and now a week later he is really sick, so do you think the school is contaminated now. I took my son out the first sign of sickness. And being diabetic makes it harder on him. His school nurse asked if i had his shots up to date and they are I don't understand how he got this. And we have to stay isolated for 5days of treatment. Our local Health Department was called to report it and told to the schools that it is contagious and it is in the school. they do not give the kids name which i like. he gets to go back to school monday and everyone will no it is him due to the deep cough that is continuously. thanks, Lisa
I have a three month old daughter and she devloped this cough and has had it for about 2 weeks now. It seems to get worse at night when she is asleep. She also devloped a stuffy, runny, nose. Are these signs that she has whooping cough?
To the webmd blog admin, I am a father of a 20 month year old daughter who has had just started having a terrible cold, and constantly coughing, we also have a 7mo son who tonight i believe has started to catch her cold and has heavy/trouble breathing, like a whooping cough sound.
How can you tell if they just have a cold, or if its Whooping cough?
Since it is a holiday there regular docotors office is closed should i wait another or take them both to a near by hospital?
thak you for a responce i wll check back to this form later
Michael,
I'm not a doctor -- just the blog admin here, and a mom, so I do know how scary it is when they get those horrible coughs.
First, if you're really concerned that your daughter is having difficulty breathing, you should call your pediatrician. Even on a holiday, they'll have an emergency number you can call. They'll be able to help you figure out whether it's an emergency or else give you some suggestions for things to try at home.
If you want more information about infants and coughs, try this article on the croup (which has a very scary sound to it, yet is actually pretty harmless). Also, this article on RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) might help. Those articles have a "when to call the doctor" section that should help you decide whether this is an emergency.
I'd also encourage you to visit Dr. P's message board, where you can get help from other parents while waiting for an answer from Dr. Parker.
Happy New Year, and I hope your children feel better soon!
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